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LINCOLN  ROOM 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 


MEMORIAL 

the  Class  of  1901 


founded  by 

HARLAN  HOYT  HORNER 

and 

HENRIETTA  CALHOUN  HORNER 


By  LYMAN  WHITNEY  ALLEN 


A  PARABLE  OF  THE  ROSE 

And  Other  Poems 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  :     A  Poem 

Centennial  (Fourth)   Edition 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
A  POEM. 


NOTE 

To  this  poem  was  awarded  the  prize  of  one  thousand 
dollars  offered  by  the  New  York  Herald  in  1S95  for  the  best 
poem  on  American  history.  It  was  published  in  the  Christmas 
issues  of  the  Neiv  York  Herald^  the  Boston  Herald,  and  the 
St.  Louis  Republic  of  that  year.  This  fourth  or  Centennial 
edition  is  a  revision  and  enlargement. 


Abraham  Lincoln 

A  Poem 


By 

Lyman  Whitney  Allen 


Centennial  (Fourth)  Edition 


G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons 

New  York    and    London 

XTbclRnicfterbocfter  press 

1909 


Copyright,  1895 

BY 

JAMES  GORDON  BENNETT 

Copyright,  1896 

BY 

G.  p.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 
Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London 

Copyright,  1909 

BY 

LYMAN  WHITNEY  ALLEN 
(For  Fourth  Edition) 


tTbe  finfcftcrbocfter  Pvces,  flew  Sort 


TO  MYRA. 

Small  worth  in  Heaven  where  thou  dost  live 
Has  praise  of  earth  :  yet  unto  thee 
My  soul  would  phrase  the  memory 

Of  every  grace  which  thou  didst  give, — 

The  comrade  love,  the  patriot  fire, 

The  daily  sweet  solicitude 

Attending  every  poet  mood, 
Ascending  with  each  high  desire. 

Full  well  thou  know'st  the  regnant  part 
Thou  hadst  when  first  these  numbers  came; 
Henceforth  shall  issue  in  thy  name 

This  tribute  of  a  grateful  heart. 

Where  quiring  saints  and  seraphs  meet. 

Reach  down  from  out  the  crowned  throng  ; 
And,  as  of  yore,  be  thine  the  song 

I  lay  at  Love's  unvisioned  feet. 


vu 


CONTENTS. 

Invocation      .... 

FAGS 

3 

Historic  Preludes 

1 

7 

The  Heart  of  Freedom  . 

• 

9 

Ships  of  Fate   . 

1                 1 

II 

A  Dream  of  Empire  . 

»                 * 

14 

The  Fall  of  the  Dark    . 

1                 i 

i8 

The  Champion  of  Liberty 

• 

21 

The  Star  of  Sangamon 

»                              4 

23 

The  People's  King   . 

30 

The  Great  Expectance 

» 

34 

The  Nation's  Awakening 

» 

37 

Fort  Sumter 

» 

39 

Columbia's  Wrath   . 

• 

44 

Retribution 

• 

47 

IX 


CONTENTS. 


PAGB 


The  People's  Uprising     . 

• 

•                f 

51 

The  Call  to  Arms    . 

• 

•                1 

53 

The  People's  Response 

• 

•                 « 

55 

The  Gathering  of  the 

Legions     , . 

62 

Our  Volunteers 

• 

64 

Humiliation 

• 

67 

The  Price  of  Liberty 

• 

69 

Bull  Run   . 

• 

70 

The  Ends  of  Purpose 

• 

72 

Fredericksburg 

• 

74 

Further  Darkness    . 

• 

76 

The  Night  of  Sorrow 

• 

77 

Emancipation   . 

• 

79 

The  Vigil  .        .        . 

« 

81 

The  Nation's  Prophet 

• 

85 

The  Voice  of  Destiny 

• 

88 

The  Stroke  of  Justice 

• 

90 

CONTENTS. 


XI 


Victory     .... 

Dawn  and  Hope 

Gettysburg 

The  Lifting  Shadows 
The  Great  Translation 

The  Apotheosis 

The  Voice  of  Martyrdom 

The  Nation's  Woe     . 
The  Pledge  of  History  . 

Columbia,  Great  Mother 

Our  Soldiers     . 

The  Later  Warriors 
The  Land  of  Promise 


PAGE 

93 

95 

97 

99 
103 

105 

HI 

"3 
117 

119 

123 

127 

135 


INVOCATION. 


INVOCATION. 


Of  one  great  Ship  that  sailed  the  sea 
And  weathered  the  infuriate  blast ; 
Of  one  great  Pilot  that  stood  fast 

And  brought  her  into  lee, 


I  sing  ;  and  singing  seek  to  use 

Thy  founts  of  grace,  as  they  of  yore 

Sought  and  found  service  in  thy  store, 

O  immemorial  Muse  ! 

3 


ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

The  Grecian  Poet,  quaffing  thence 
Castalian  cheer,  song's  classic  lord, 
Awoke  the  mythic  centuried  chord 

Of  life's  diviner  sense. 


The  Florentine, with  screened  eyes, 
Caught  rich  and  Beatrician  gleam 
Of  Eunoe's  redemptive  stream, 

And  beams  of  Paradise. 


The  Seer  of  Horton,  finding  meet 
Thy  rills  beyond  the  hills  of  time. 
Set  primal  sorrow  into  rime, 

And  sin  to  music  sweet. 


INVOCATION. 

The  Laureate  of  the  Holy  Grail, 

Deep-drinking,  placed  before  thy  face 
The  Idyll-Epic  of  the  race, 

The  quest's  supreme  avail. 


The  Cambridge  Singer  o'er  the  walls 
Of  custom  clomb,  and  roaming  found, 
On  far  Itascan  storied  ground, 

The  Laughing  Water  Falls ; 


The  twilight  of  primeval  pines, 
The  leafy  homes  of  plumed  quires, 
Mondamin's  green  and  golden  spires, 

And  Hiawatha's  shrines. 


ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 


O  ancient  Muse  forever  young  ! 

Guard  of  the  poets'  mystic  spring  ! 

Touch  heart  and  tongue  that  I  may  sing 
Somewhat  as  they  have  sung, —  - 


One  simple  strain  of  that  great  song, 
Which  ardent  bards,  through  future  years. 
O'er  ever-brightening  hemispheres, 

Shall  rapturously  prolong ; 


Sweet  burthen  since  the  world  began, 

Desire  of  every  century. 

Imperious  Love's  sublime  decree, — 
The  brotherhood  of  man. 


HISTORIC  PRELUDES. 


THE  HEART  OF  FREEDOM. 


The  fragrant  meadows  of  Runnymede 

Grow  greener  with  every  succeeding  year ; 

The  Ironside  hoofs  of  the  Puritan's  steed 
Still  crowd  on  the  Cavalier. 


The  laurel  blooms  upon  Burial  Hill ; 

The  broken  tablets  are  slabs  of  gold  ; 

And  Plymouth  Rock  in  the  winter's  chill 

With  summer  is  aureoled. 

9 


lO  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

The  thunders  of  Concord  and  Lexington 
Roll  on  in  music  that  will  not  die ; 

And  one  brave  venture  for  Freedom  done 
Immortally  crowns  July. 


White  stars  of  dawn  in  a  sky  of  blue, 
And  bars  of  glory  o'er  land  and  sea, 

Shall  float  the  emblem  all  ages  through 
Of  Union  and  Liberty. 


So  stands  our  hope  with  its  blessings  spread, 

A  magna  charta  inviolate  ; 
The  deathless  soul  of  the  patriot  dead  ; 


The  heart  of  the  living  State. 


SHIPS  OF  FATE. 


Two  paths  apart  on  the  misty  main ; 

Two  eager  prows  toward  the  beaconing  West ; 
O'er  crests  of  courage,  through  troughs  of  pain, 

Of  life  and  of  death  possessed. 


Above  the  one  from  seraphic  wings 

Blew  friendly  winds  'gainst  the  crowded  sails; 

And  fingers  used  to  celestial  strings 
Held  back  on  the  rushing  gales. 


II 


12  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

Below  the  other  a  rising  sweep 

Of  forms  foam-raimented ;  raven  hands 

Forced  fiercely  through  the  resentful  deep 
Swift  woe  unto  western  lands. 


Fair  Mayflozver,  breasting  the  wintry  sea ! 

Thou  wert  the  promise  of  wakening  spring ; 
Embosoming  Freedom's  destiny 

And  Liberty's  issuing. 


Dark  Slaver,  touching  Virginia's  shore  ! 

With  captives  laden  from  mast  to  keel ; 
Thou  wert  the  sign  of  the  deepening  sore 

Of  wrong  that  could  only  heal 


SHIPS  OF  FATE.  13 

In  smoke  of  battle  and  streams  of  blood, 
In  orphan  cries  unto  winds  and  waves, 

In  tears  of  precipitate  widowhood 
Bedewing  a  million  graves. 


A  DREAM  OF  EMPIRE. 


A  FRUITFUL  land  'neath  Southern  skies, 
With  verdant  fields  and  blossomed  meads; 

And  o'er  the  seas  increasing  rise 

The  cries  of  Europe's  greatening  needs. 


Wide-stretching  belts  of  meltless  snows 

Through  swarms  of  swarthy  forms  displayed ; 

And  purple  wealth  to  golden  grows 

Along  the  thoroughfares  of  trade. 

14 


A  DREAM   OF    EMPIRE.  1$ 

A  dream  of  empire  such  as  ne'er 
Glowed  on  the  vision  of  the  race ; 

A  bounteous  breadth  of  tropic  sphere, 
A  luminous  ocean-rounded  space, 


From  Hatteras  to  Panama, 

And  summer  shores  of  Mazatlan, 

To  copper  hills  of  Arriba 

Beyond  the  bays  of  Yucatan  ; 


And  on  o'er  Amazonian  plain. 

Past  Pampean  sea  and  jewelled  bourn. 
Through  Incan  trails  and  tracks  of  Spain, 

One  empire  to  the  Southern  Horn. 


l6  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

An  empire  with  its  gilded  throne 

By  flesh  and  blood  enslaved  wrought ; 

An  empire  with  its  pillared  zone 

Of  states,  whose  founders  nobly  fought 


For  right  and  faith,  but  failed  to  trace, 
The  while  their  life-blood  stained  the  sod, 

Within  the  negro's  ebon  face 
The  image  of  Almighty  God. 


And  later  scions,  holding  fast 
Their  legacies  of  sophistry. 

Preferred  the  world's  discordant  past, 
Forsook  the  footsteps  of  the  free, 


A  DREAM   OF    EMPIRE.  1/ 

To  tread  apart  revulsive  ways, 

Back  from  the  ascending  trend  of  things, 
Back  toward  the  nations*  yesterdays, 

Hand  unto  hand  again  with  kings. 


THE  FALL  OF  THE  DARK. 

The  dream  waits  e'er  its  clear  accomplishment 
As  night-time  waits  the  day  and  day's  new 
power ; 

Likewise  this  ancient  vision's  full  event 
Must  tarry  upon  Fate's  imperious  hour. 


The  dream  and  night  were  one;  the  sleepless 

eyes, 

The  laborous  hands,  in  places  high  and  low, 

Wrought  lustily.     What  lips  may  speak  the  rise 

Of  vast  preparings,  of  the  underglow 

i8 


THE   FALL  OF  THE  DARK.  I9 

Of  thought  forth-brought  as  by  a  miracle 
To  coffered  gold,  to  swords  and  bayonets, 

To  mustering  hosts  and  the  enlarging  spell 
Of  hatred  rising  into  thunderous  threats? 


Wide-spreading  Northern  wonder,  working  grief, 
Grew  to  engulfing  terror.     Augurings 

Vulturian  filled  the  air.     Calm-browed  Belief 
Vanished  before  Distrust  whose  venom  stings 


All  souls  impierced,  the  while  all  thoughts  grew 
dark 

And  darkness  fell  upon  the  world.  The  land 
Felt  horror's  pall,  as  if  its  covenant  ark 

Were  falling  into  close  Philistine  hand. 


20  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

The  crush  of  sorrow  and  the  hush  of  fear 
Sank  in  the  ominous  pause  of  dumb  despite. 

Then  out  of  darkness  and  of  horror  sheer 
One  sudden  vast  alarum  filled  the  night. 


THE  CHAMPION  OF  LIBERTY. 


21 


THE  STAR  OF  SANGAMON. 


A  NATION  called  through  the  gloom 

In  one  long  wail  of  despair, 

One  multitudinous  prayer, 

'Neath  portent  of  hastening  doom  ; 

And  myriad  strained  eyes 

Were  lifted  to  lowering  skies. 

But  on  a  sudden  the  night 

Was  shaken  :  a  marvellous  light 

Burst  forth,  an  effulgent  spark 

Against  the  overwhelming  dark. 

23 


24  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

It  waxed,  it  whitened,  it  shone 
Aflame  in  the  widening  zone 
Of  dawn  ;  and  a  world  intent 
Read,  scanning  the  firmament, 
God's  covenant  blazed  thereon, 
America's  horoscope, 
The  sign  of  a  Nation's  hope, 
The  Star  of  Sangamon. 


Not  out  of  the  East  but  the  West 
A  Star  and  a  Savior  rose  ; 
A  light  to  an  eager  quest, 
A  spirit  of  grace  possessed, 
Of  faith  'mid  increasing  woes, 
Of  wisdom  manifest. 


THE   STAR  OF   SANGAMON.  25 

And,  forth  from  the  variant  past 
Of  thraldom's  darkness,  at  last 
God's  measureless  love  for  man 
Wrought  through  heredity's  dower 
The  great  American, 
Whose  soul  was  the  perfect  flower 
Of  patriot  planting  in  soil 
Kept  moist  by  blood  and  tears, 
And  fertile  by  faithful  toil 
Throughout  unnumbered  years. 


Nor  accident  nor  chance. 
But  heavenly  ordinance 
Set  his  nativity 
In  ripened  fulness  of  time, 


26  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

For  sake  of  a  race  to  be 

The  pledge  of  a  golden  prime. 

In  lowliest  spot  he  breathed 
His  first  sweet  breath  of  the  earth ; 
And  life's  great  Parent  bequeathed 
Fair  virginal  Nature  from  birth 
To  be  his  tutor  and  friend, 
His  youthful  steps  to  attend. 

She  led  o'er  the  wooded  hills 
And  flowering  prairied  vales, 
Along  by  the  summer's  rills, 
Against  the  winter's  gales, 
Through  sweeps  of  primeval  ills, 
Across  the  Red  Men's  trails. 


THE   STAR   OF  SANGAMON.  2/ 

She  taught  him  the  songs  of  birds, 
The  sympathy-syllabled  words 
Of  water  and  earth  and  air, 
And  pointed  the  winding  stair 
That  leads  to  Heaven,  where  climb 
The  higher  forces  of  time. 

She  bound  him,  that  he  might  feel 
The  weight  of  Oppression's  heel ; 
She  starved  him,  that  he  might  learn 
The  hunger  of  souls  that  yearn ; 
She  bruised  him,  that  he  might  know 
Somewhat  of  the  world's  great  woe. 

She  helmed  him  with  faith  ;  she  placed 
The  girdle  of  strength  at  his  waist ; 


28  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

And  over  his  breast  she  laid 
The  buckler  of  right ;  the  blade 
Of  truth  she  set  in  his  hand, 
And  bade  him  unwavering  stand, 
As  Moses  stood  with  his  rod, 
For  Freedom  and  God. 

At  length  in  a  deathless  hour 
She  kissed  him  ;  a  quickening  power 
Shot  forth  through  her  lips  of  fire 
In  touch  of  divine  desire. 

One  long  sweet  look  of  review  ; 
Then  suddenly  from  her  she  threw 
Her  manifold  mantle  of  mystery ; 
And,  facing  the  great  Before, 


THE   STAR   OF   SANGAMON. 


29 


I 


On  unto  the  famed  door 
That  opens  out  into  history, 
In  radiant  rapture  she  led 
Her  hero  all  panoplied, 
And  thrust  him  from  her  to  be, 
On  mission  immortal  bent, 
Transfigurer  of  despair, 
The  champion  of  Liberty, 
The  hope  of  a  continent, 
God's  answer  to  prayer. 


THE   PEOPLE'S    KING. 


Not  oft  such  marvel  the  years  reveal, 

Such  beauteous  thing, 

A  People's  King, 
The  chosen  liege  of  a  chosen  weal, 

And  Liberty's  offering. 

Not  oft  such  product  the  fair  world  hath, 

A  People's  Own, 

On  mightiest  throne, 

Whose  strong  foundations  are  Right  and  Faith, 

And  Virtue  the  corner-stone. 

30 


THE   people's   king.  31 

Not  by  earth's  bounty  was  he  prepared  ; 

Not  princely  store, 

Nor  golden  lore 
Was  nurture  on  which  his  nature  fared 

For  strength  in  the  trust  he  bore  ; 


But  inner  largess  of  revenue. 

Past  time  and  space, 

The  fruits  of  grace, 
That  mellowed  upon  the  tree  which  grew 

God's  food  for  a  famished  race* 


In  history's  mirror  he  truly  saw 
The  ages'  strife. 


32  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

With  passion  rife, 
'Neath  covenant  promise  a  changeless  law 
Writ  clear  in  its  serial  life. 


He  learned  from  the  centuries'  battle-fields 

What  heroes  are, 

How  maim  and  scar 
Are  gloried  trophies  to  him  who  yields 

Himself  to  the  shocks  of  war  ; 

That  patriot  sires  have  taught  their  sons, 

Since  days  of  eld, 

How  Truth  is  held, 
And  Justice  fashions  a  nation's  guns 

Never  to  be  repelled. 


THE  people's  king.  33 

Thus  was  it  a  purpose  for  valiant  deeds, 

Like  whitening  flame, 

Through  all  his  frame 
Swept  burning  until  his  Country's  needs 

His  one  great  thought  became. 


Thus  was  it  he  took  in  his  sovereign  hand. 

With  face  tojate, 

The  orb  of  state, 
To  serve  his  Country  and  God,  and  stand 

To  them  all  consecrate. 


THE  GREAT  EXPECTANCE. 

He  mounted  to  the  People's  mystic  throne, 
And  counted,  as  he  clomb,  each  step  sublime ; 

He  marked  where   its   foundations,   stone  on 
stone, 
Sank  deep  into  the  crimsoned  soil  of  time. 

His  tread  became  a  kneeling  as  he  rose 

Transfigured  by  historic  overflows. 

His  was  the  great  remembrance  of  the  years. 
The  panoramic  vision  of  the  cost 

Of  Right  victorious  through  blood  and  tears. 
One  day  of  triumph  after  thousands  lost. 

He  felt  the  solemn  glory  of  th*  ascent, — 

The  passing  of  a  centuried  sacrament. 

34 


THE   GREAT  EXPECTANCE.  35 

So  rose  he,  setting  full  his  thoughts  unfurled, 
Toward  high  and  regnant  duty.     At  his  heart 

He  felt  th*  expectant  chargings  of  the  world 
For  wisdom  greater  than  the  statesman's  art. 

And  likewise  power,  beyond  the  gift  of  place, 

For  saving  of  a  nation  and  a  race. 


So  sat  he  on  his  high  and  sacred  seat, — 

He  who  knew  God  and    God's  perplexing 
ways, — 
Believing  God  and  patient  with  the  feet 

Of  the  swift-shod   but    loitering,   with   the 
praise 
And  blame  commingled,  waiting  the  clear  word 
Which  God's  true  seers  at  last  have  ever  heard. 


36  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

So  reigned  he  as  amid  the  seraphim, — 

Albeit  the  powers  of  darkness  were  let  loose; 

So  saw  he,  where  all  other  eyes  were  dim, 
The  fiery  pillar  set  for  Freedom's  use; 

And  when  the  fulness  of  the  time  was  come 

He  ushered  in  Right's  first  millennium. 


I 


THE  NATION'S  AWAKENING. 


37 


FORT   SUMTER. 

O'er   sea-girt  fortress  set  toward  Charleston's 
orient  sun 
Columbia's  banner  waved,  and  'neath  it,  in 

array, 
A  noble  band  stood  waiting  for  the  break  of 
day, 
And  Southland's  primal  gun. 

Soon  from  Palmetto  shores  and  isles  historic 
burst 
War's  first  unfilial  thunder,  and  a  signal  shell 

39 


40  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

Rose     screaming     seaward     over    guardian 
citadel, 
Predestined  and  accurst. 


An  omened  silence ;  then  from  bastioned  shoals 
of  ire, 
Raged,  blazing  under  wide  and  reddened  fir- 
mament, 
One  hurricane  of  havoc  into  swift  descent 
Of  fierce  columbiad  fire. 


Guns  answered  guns,  till  thrice  from  morn  to 
eventide 
The  worn  defenders  strove  behind   embat- 
tered  bars, 


FORT  SUMTER.  4 1 

And,  faithful    to   their   Country's   hallowed 
Stripes  and  Stars, 
Rebellion's  host  defied. 

At  length,  within  shot-swept  and  ravaged  ram- 
parts, broke 
Mad  conflagration,  driven  'neath  furious  can- 
nonade, 
As  if  the  traitorous  Earth  had  molten  wrath 
displayed 
Hurled  through  volcanian  smoke. 

Before  resistless  storm  the  standard  fell,  but 
leapt 
Aloft  mid  clouds  enfuming,  and  in  proud 
disdain 


42  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

Streamed  from  its  splintered  staff  above  the 
wreck  and  pain 
And  vows  of  soldiers  kept. 

Thrust  forth  by  flame  and    fate,  all  honored 
in  retreat, 
They    unsurrendering    went,    their    banner 

holding  fast 
To  float  thereon  again,  redeemed,  and  be  at 
last 
Their  leader's  winding-sheet. 

The  die  was  cast ;  Secession's  deed  flashed  to 
renown ; 
The    golden   South  had   drunk  of   her  self- 
poisoned  cup ; 


FORT   SUMTER.  43 

And  swift  a  loyal  People's  slumberous  blood 
rose  up 
When  Sumter's  flag  went  down. 

And  one,  a  Nation's  Prophet,  with  sad   eyes 
afar 
Beholding,  steadfast  gazed  beyond  near  space 

and  time 
Upon   th*  advancing  tide,  and  saw  it  sweep 
sublime 
The  purple  paths  of  war. 


COLUMBIA'S   WRATH. 


The  guns  that  fired  on  Sumter's  walls 
Awoke  a  Nation  ;  far  and  near 
Were  cries  of  anguish,  bursts  of  fear 

And  burning  judgment  calls. 


Beloved  Columbia,  wounded  sore, 
A  moment  staggered  ;  then  her  form 
Rose  towering,  while  a  gathering  storm 

Her  darkening  features  wore. 

44 


COLUMBIA'S  WRATH.  45 

Her  flag  that  waved  o'er  Southern  sea 
Had  fallen  while  she  slept ;  but  now 
The  cloud  upon  her  bended  brow 

Was  certain  augury 


Of  hastening  vengeance,  and  the  fire, 
That  flashed  from  all  her  kindled  tips 
Of  being,  was  apocalypse 

Of  purpose  swift  and  dire  ; 


Of  purpose  dire  until  the  Right 

In  dust  and  blood  should  conquer  Wrong; 

Till  mists  should  lift  and  morning's  song 
Sound  through  the  passing  night ; 


46  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

Till  victor  hosts  should  rise  and  plant 
That  flag  on  Sumter's  height  again  ; 
And  wipe  away  for  aye  her  stain, 

And  sign  her  covenant, 


Blood-writ  across  a  million  graves, 
That,  in  her  undivided  land. 
There  nevermore  should  rest  a  band 

Upon  a  race  of  slaves. 


RETRIBUTION. 

Truth  is  not  truth  and  error.     Truth  alone 
She  ever  is,  and  what  is  done  for  Truth 

Forever  lives,  the  while  the  world  is  grown 
To  betterness,  and  all  the  fire  of  youth 

Flames  in  the  centuried  frame  and  march  of 
things, 

Lasts  in  the  ages*  vast  recoverings. 

Vengeance  God  takes,  and  God  has  vengeance 

time, 

Wherein  the  deed  returns  on  him  who  sins 

'  Gainst  Truth's   white   stars   of   right.     Such 

fashions  rime 

In  the  great  order  of  the  world,  and  wins 

The  refluent  tides  of  history  back  from  shame, 

Giving  to  Justice  her  eternal  claim. 

47 


48  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

God  is  no  tyrant ;  immemorial  laws 

He  armors  Nature  with,  set  rank  on  rank 

Amid  the  suns,  whose  gloried  presence  draws 
Admiring  eyes,  makes  music,  fills  the  blank 

'  Twixt  God  and  man  with  Love's  high  instru^ 
ments 

That  work  high  Love's  continuous  descents. 


Who  violates  God's  laws  arch-foe  becomes 
To  all  that  makes  himself  God's  miniature. 

To  all  that  heralds  Love's  millenniums, 
That  holds  the  pillars  of  creation  sure. 

He  is  his  own  destroyer  who  destroys 

What  God  has  fashioned  and  what  God  em- 
ploys. 


RETRIBUTION.  49 

Fulness  of  time,  fulness  of  circumstance, 
High  indignation,  sense  of  righteousness, 

Remembrance  of  shed  blood  and  all  th*  advance 
Of  Freedom  got  through   battle-storm  and 
stress, 

The  cries  of  captives  God  created  free, 

Assault  upon  a  nation's  destiny  ! 


The  deed's  return !    Bright  swords  of  cherubim 
Whirled  everywhither  through  the  thunder- 
ous night. 

The  white  battalions  flamed  along  the  rim 
Of  the  recoiling  earth.     Th*  eternal  light 

Of  retribution,  glimmering  from  afar, 

Became  the  Right's  inviolate  avatar. 


THE  PEOPLE'S  UPRISING. 


51 


uSth  ^  tsjw^ 


THE   CALL  TO   ARMS. 


Beside  Columbia  stood  one 
Begot  of  Holy  Liberty  ; 
Exalted  by  her  grace  to  be 

Her  favored  regnant  son. 


That  sacred  trust  his  heart  and  brain 

In  swift  and  sweet  devotion  drew ; 

And  well  his  loyal  nature  knew 

The  measure  of  her  pain. 

53 


54  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

And  all  his  being  rose  with  hers ; 
Till,  facing  her  untongued  distress, 
Remembering  the  faithfulness 

Of  past  deliverers, 


He  took  from  out  his  sacred  girth 
The  golden  trumpet  which  he  bore  ; 
Blew  such  a  blast  as  ne'er  before 

Was  heard  in  all  the  earth  ; 


A  blast  that  sounded  war's  alarms. 

From  north  to  south,  from  east  to  west ; 
Columbia's  supreme  behest, 

The  Nation's  call  to  arms. 


THE    PEOPLE'S    RESPONSE. 

It  rang  o'er  the  startled  land, 
One  sovereign  blast  of  command. 

« 

It  rolled  from  sea  unto  sea, 
The  summons  of  Liberty. 
It  broke  'gainst  the  scintillant  hills, 
Resounding  in  multiple  thrills 
Of  wakening  thunder.    It  swept 
Through  valleys  and  over  streams, 
The  militant  havoc  of  dreams 
Of  troubled  millions  that  slept. 
It  stirred  all  hearts  as  it  went, 
Arousing  a  continent. 

55 


56  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

The  People's  answer  came  ; 
A  splendor  burst  on  the  night ; 
The  crests  of  the  hills  were  flame ; 
The  valleys  were  lines  of  light ; 
The  winds  were  voices  of  trust ; 
A  soul  was  incarnate  in  dust ; 
The  frame  of  the  struggling  earth 
Drew  nigh  to  a  second  birth. 

The  People  leapt  to  their  feet, 
Their  strength  like  a  giant's  brawn, 
Their  zeal  like  a  furnace  heat, 
Their  hope  like  the  widening  dawn. 

And  up  to  the  throne  of  Him 
Who  reigns  'twixt  the  cherubim, 


THE  people's   response.  5/ 

*Mid  supplicatory  throes 

A  vow  inviolate  rose ; 

That,  be  it  through  torturing  pain, 

Their  banner  should  rise  again  ; 

That  ne'er  should  the  Federal  Stars 

4 

Give  place  to  the  Southern  Bars ; 
That,  under  God's  judgment  sky. 
Rebellion  at  last  should  lie 
In  overthrow  complete 
Beneath  Columbia's  feet. 

And  thus  a  People  quivering  stood, 
And  offered  their  blood. 

The  crags  replied  to  the  echoing  crags, 
And  flags  waved  answer  to  flags. 


58 


ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 


O'er  wharf  and  harbor,  o'er  vale  and  hill, 

And  loyal  domicile, 

O'er  school  and  languishing  academe 

A  banner  floated  supreme. 

O'er  bustling  mart  and  thoroughfare 

One  standard  streamed  to  the  air. 

From  argent  turrets  and  glittering  spires 

The  pennons  of  sainted  sires 

Were  signs  of  a  storied  Faith  that  wore 

Her  lustrous  robes  as  of  yore. 

The  steam-shod  chargers  of  turbulent  trade, 

Thundering  through  meadow  and  glade, 

Were  freighted  for  Freedom,  and  southward  flew 

Ablaze  with  the  Red,  White  and  Blue. 

And  vows  were  written  again  and  again, 

Till  earth  was  a  manuscript 


THE  people's   response.  59 


Illuminated  by  patriot  pen 
In  triplicate  glory  dipt. 


The  plow  was  left  in  the  fallow  field 

For  sake  of  a  larger  yield. 

The  iron  lay  cold  in  the  smouldering  flame 

Because  of  a  higher  claim. 

The  rattling  shuttle,  the  whirring  loom 

Were  hushed  at  the  cannon's  boom. 

And  over  the  land  the  market's  hum 

Gave  place  to  the  fife  and  drum. 

The  workers,  trained  for  the  shop  and  mill, 

Aspired  to  a  warrior's  skill. 

The  poet  deserted  his  golden  song 

To  join  the  arm^d  throng. 


6o  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

The  sculptor  forsook  his  half-carved  stone 

At  sound  of  the  bugle  blown. 

Each  town  and  hamlet  became  a  spring 

Of  chivalric  issuing, 

A  living  current  of  sacrifice 

Full-set  toward  a  great  emprise. 

The  plowshares  sprang  into  glistening  swords, 

And  pruning-hooks  into  spears  ; 

Love*s  accents  broke  into  farewell  words, 

And  laughter  was  changed  to  tears. 

Across  the  threshold  the  mother  gave 

Her  son  for  a  soldier's  grave  ; 

And  freely  yielded  the  weeping  wife 

The  heart  of  her  heart  for  strife. 

Despair  strode  in  through  the  gates  of  home. 

And  Hope  fled  forth  to  roam. 


THE   people's   response.  6i 

All  hearts  were  one,  and  the  Nation's  soul 

Moved  on  toward  its  sacred  goal. 

Beneath  the  sky's  cerulean  hue 

The  hills  and  the  vales  were  blue. 

The  sun  flashed  down,  in  its  dazzling  wheel, 

On  billows  of  bristling  steel. 


THE  GATHERING  OF  THE  LEGIONS. 

Majestic  swept  from  coast  to  coast 

Columbia's  azure-liveried  host. 

From  Pilgrim  havens,  from  Pine-Tree  shades, 

And  over  the  walls  of  the  Palisades  ; 

From  Eldorado's  aureate  sand, 

Past  geyser  vales  of  the  Wonderland  ; 

From  linked  lakes,  from  the  castled  mounds 

Of  Gathering  Waters,  from  forest  bounds ; 

O'er  purple  canyons  and  ferny  glens, 

Ravined  plateaus  and  miasmal  fens, 

Meridian  rivers  and  prairies  wide. 

And  granite  domes  of  the  Great  Divide ; 

From  Empire  Portal,  from  Golden  Gate, 

62 


THE   GATHERING   OF  THE   LEGIONS.        63 

To  Country  and  Liberty  consecrate, 
With  ''  Union  forever  "  their  rallying  cry, 
To  stand  for  the  Colors,  or  under  them  die, 
By  one  unfaltering  faith  controlled, 
The  patriot  legions  onward  rolled  ; 
Onj  on,  at  the  clarion  call  of  him 
Who  stood  with  face  to  a  spectre  grim. 
And  saw,  o'er  the  crests  of  the  surging  tide, 
The  crimson  Furies  of  Fratricide ; 
On,  on,  toward  the  hallowed  citadel. 
Where  Freedom's  chosen  guardians  dwell ; 
On,  on,  the  myriads  swept  along, 
With  rhythmic  tread  and  with  ringing  song. 
With  heralding  bugle  and  fife  and  drum  : 
"  We  come,  Father  Abraham,  we  come. 
Six  hundred  thousand  strong." 


OUR  VOLUNTEERS. 


O  SACRED  miracle  wrought  of  truth  ! 

Of  truth  and  time, 

And  love  sublime  ! 
And  through  the  bloom  of  perpetual  youth, 

The  wonder  of  every  clime  ! 


O  summer  of  sorrow  that  gloams  afar  ! 

Across  the  years 

Of  mists  and  tears  ! 
How  beauteous  now  the  memories  are 

That  halo  your  Volunteers  ! 

64 


OUR  VOLUNTEERS.  65 

O  Freemen  who  rose  when  their  Country  called! 

Such  patriots  those, 

Where  else  disclose 
Or  lands  or  seasons,  by  Heaven  forestalled, 

Against  impetuous  foes? 


Immortal  Legions  that  gathered  then  ! 

When  skies  were  black, 

And  Freedom's  track 
Lay  close  by  chasms  which  none  could  ken, 

And  under  the  tempest's  wrack ! 


O  Heroes  that  never  shall  be  forgot ! 
Though  life  be  done, 


And  rest  be  won, 

5 


66  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

And  earth  be  given  for  blesseder  spot 
That  needs  no  light  of  the  sun ! 


Columbia's  power  supreme  shall  last, 
Through  endless  years, 
Beyond  all  fears, 

The  future  risen  above  the  past, 
Upheld  by  her  Volunteers. 


HUMILIATION. 


67 


THE  PRICE  OF  LIBERTY. 

The  price  of  liberty  is  patriot  blood. 
Thus  is  it  written  with  the  dripping  sword 
Across  the  pages  of  the  ages  past. 
Where'er  uplifted  stands  the  crowned  Good, 
Beneath  her  bleeding  feet  lies  Evil's  horde, 
Defiant  and  contending  to  the  last. 

So  was  it  that  the  azure  sky  of  noon 
Should  darken,  and  calm  Nature  terrified 
Should   tremble    in    the    fierce   and  thun- 
derous jar  ; 
So  was  it  that  the  flowered  fields  of  June 
Should  redden,  and  aeolian  summer-tide 
Grow  strident  with  the  agony  of  war. 

69 


BULL  RUN. 

Long  lines  of  steel  in  the  morning, 
Wide  winding  columns  of  blue ; 
The  Sabbath's  hush, 
The  dawn's  sweet  flush, 
Brave  hearts  all  failure  scorning 
And  fresh  as  the  glistening  dew. 

High  noon  o'er  the  trampled  meadows 
And  Bull  Run's  crimsoned  stream ; 

Hot  shot  and  shell 

And  swaths  of  Hell ; 

Bold  forms  in  the  flaming  shadows 

Aface  to  a  fiery  dream. 

70 


BULL  RUN.  71 

Dust-clouds  in  the  evening  rising, 
New  hope  to  a  turning  foe; 
Tumultuous  flight, 
Blood,  rapine  and  night ; 
The  Nation's  heart  agonizing, 
A  clamor  of  fear  and  woe. 


THE  ENDS  OF  PURPOSE. 

The  blood  of  patriots  is  freedom's  price. 

The  faith  that   holds   th'  ascendings  of  the 
world 
And  links  the  heavens  and  earth  in  closer 
bond 
Grows  layer  on  layer  by  mortal  sacrifice; 

Thus  has  it  deep  foundations,  while  unfurled 
Its  banners  to  the  winds  of  hope  respond. 


God  counts  not  time  by  years,  but  by  the  ends 

Of  purpose,  by  each  holy  cross  of  shame 

Set  in  the  great  enlargings  of  the  race. 

Defeat  is  God's  arch-servant  and  attends. 

Valet  to  Victory,  the  unseen  frame 

That    moves   beside    each    circumstantial 

grace. 

72 


I 


THE  ENDS   OF  PURPOSE.  73 

So  was  it  days  of  gloom  were  manifold ; 
So  was  it  mists  of  terror  lifted  slow ; 

And   Freedom    feared,  not   seeing   God's 
right-hand  ; 
Yet  somehow  hands  were  felt  and  potence  old 
That  oft  had  shook  the  world,  while  one  vast 
woe 
Was  working  for  th'  enriching  of  the  land. 


I 


FREDERICKSBURG.     , 

Up  terraced  heights  steel-swarded, 
'  Neath  Death's  artilleried  wings, 
With  bugle  notes 
*  Gainst  cannon  throats, 
Forced  heroes  charged,  bombarded, 
In  mad  adventurings. 

They  rated  blood  as  water, 
And  all  the  slope  shone  red : 

Past  valor's  call, 

By  bristling  wall, 

Defeat  linked  arms  with  Slaughter 

Astride  the  blue-robed  dead. 

74 


FREDERICKSBURG.  75 

Mixed  Night  and  Doom  descended 
And  crushed  th'  ensanguined  Day. 
The  Stars  in  dust, 
Despair,  distrust. 
With  God  th'  Uncomprehended 
And  Faith  too  shocked  to  pray. 


I 


FURTHER  DARKNESS.  , 

Swift  southward  swept  the  story  of  success ; 
And  Southern  spirits  flushed  invincible ; 
Rebellion  rose  before  the  world  a  thing 
Kissed  into  life  of  Heaven ;  and  Eagerness, 
Repanoplied  with  fortune's  gloried  spell, 
Stood  smiling  on  sure  triumph  reckoning. 

Swift  northward  swept  the  story  of  defeat, 

And  Northern   spirits  paled  for  lengthened 

loss, — 

Refining  of  the  furnace,  chastening  sent 

Of  Freedom's  God,  the  threshing  of  the  wheat ; 

And  faltering  not  a  nation  bore  its  cross, 

And  forward  unto  further  darkness  went. 

76 


¥ 


THE  NIGHT  OF  SORROW. 

The   skies   withdrew  their   guidings;   star  by 
star 
Fled  from  the  circuit  of  engulfing  cloud  ; 
The  moon  eclipsed  glowed 
Unbeauteous  beyond  its  lurid  bar ; 

And  forth,  inexpiate  and  crimson-browed, 
Carnage  emblazoned  strode. 

The  midnight   deepened,  and  war's  widening 
way 
Shook  'neath  his  clangorous  tread  all  uncon- 
trolled. 

77 


78  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

The  winds  were  bruiting  breath 
Of  Consternation  laden  with  red  spray ; 

And  happenings  were  spectres  that  foretold 
Impending  doom  and  death. 

And  Pain  was  myriad-throated  ;  and  Despair 
Waxed  flagrant  with  unloosed  and  vagrant 
tongue ; 
Terror's  envenomed  pack 
Tore  at  the  bosom  of  scarce-struggling  Prayer ; 
Distrust  o'er  pallid  Faith  her  mantle  flung, 
Along  war's  ghastly  track. 


EMANCIPATION. 


79 


THE  VIGIL. 

And  one  beside  Columbia's  prostrate  form 
Watched,  in  lone  vigil,  from  his  regent  height, 
The  Nation's  hopes  decline  ; 
And  set  intrepid  breast  against  the  storm, 
Facing  the  fury  of  inflamed  despite, 
Waiting  celestial  sign  ; 

While  through    the   fiery  rifts  his  worn  eyes 
strained 
Past  wastes  of  graves,  where  hosts,  once  glis- 
tening. 

Now  silent  prisoners  lay  ; 
/;  8i 


I' 


82  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

And  saw  with  priceless  blood  the  green  earth 
stained, 
And  war's  low-flying  vultures,  wing  to  wing, 
Disaster  and  Dismay. 

Seven-times  refined  by  fire,  his  mediate  soul 
Heard  the  unburthening  and  ascending  woes 
Of  serried  sacrifice. 
The  anguished  sighings  of  his  People,  roll 
Up  to   the   throne   of    God ;    and    felt    the 
throes 
Of  supplication  rise ; 

And  caught  the  wailings  from  expanses  higher 
Of  multitudes  that  'neath  the  altar  cried, 
*•  How  long,  O  Lord,  how  long  ? 


THE  VIGIL.  83 

How  long  ere  Justice  shall  her  rod  acquire? 
How  long  ere  Vengeance  forth  in  might  shall 
ride 
Against  Earth's  hoary  wrong  ?  " 


And,  far  uplifted  on  the  slopes  of  grace, 

His   soul,   in    prayer   impassioned,  touched 
with  God 
Through  puissant  lengths  of  faith  ; 
When,  lo,  before    him    flashed    from    farther 
space, 
Cloud-clothed,  with  rainbowed  brow  and  feet 
fire-shod. 
Above  the  tempest's  path. 


84  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

His  troubled  Country's  guardian  Hierarch, 
Imperious  by  Earth's  supreme  demand 
And  Heaven's  august  decree; 
In  flaming  splendor  vanquishing  the  dark, 
Pointing  to  duty,  with  directing  hand. 
And  ways  of  victory. 


THE  NATION'S  PROPHET, 

The  hour  was  come,  and  with  it  rose  the  man 
Ordained  of  God  and  fashioned  for  the  hour ; 
The  savior  of  a  race ; 
For  whom  wrought  ever,  since  the  world  began, 
The  subtle  energies  of  thought  and  power 
In  lineal  lines  of  grace. 

A  gentle  spirit,  ever  wise  and  good, 
That  loved  the  holy,  idolized  the  pure  ; 
A  heart  of  iron,  strong 

With  instincts  set  to  human  brotherhood, 

With  sovereignty  of  impulse  to  secure 

The  overthrow  of  wrong. 

85 


86  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

Incarnate  Conscience;  Right's  embodiment; 
Benignant  Nature's  generous  bequest 
In  mind  and  feature  writ ; 
Life's  lore  and  legends  into  wisdom  blent ; 
Past  verities  to  present  truth  compressed  ; 
The  People's  composite. 


A  master-mind  was  his  that  gazing  saw 

The  refluent  tide  of  battle,  felt  the  fires 
That  swept  all  withering ; 

A  master-mind,  set  to  a  higher  law, 

That  heard,  above  the  Earth's  despairing, 

quires 

Of  heavenly  promise  sing. 


THE  nation's  prophet.  8/ 

Unruffled  like  the  mighty  undersea, 

Calm  like  the  star  above  the  shifting  cloud, 
Abiding  truth  and  time. 
Full-mantled  with  a  prophet's  majesty 

He  stood,  the  Nation's  larger  soul,  endowed 
With  faith  and  hope  sublime. 


THE  VOICE  OF  DESTINY. 

The  hour  was  come,  and  in  that  hour  he  stood 
Responsive  to  the  sacred  voice  that  spake 
From  Heaven  and  earth  and  sea. 
He  heard  the  dusky  toiling  multitude 

Plaintively  pleading   that   his  hand   should 
break 
Their  bonds  and  set  them  free. 


He  heard  the  voice  of  God  from  shining  height, 
Who,  for  the  reason  of  the  Nation's  sin, 
Had  held  her  armies  back 

88 


THE  VOICE   OF  DESTINY.  89 

In  failure  and  defeat,  till  she  should  right 
The    wrongs    herself    had    sanctioned,    and 
should  win 
Justice  unto  her  track  ; 


When,  girded  with  the  strength  of  righteous- 
ness, 
God  for  her,  with  descending  seraphim. 
Above  the  battle's  tide, 
She  then  would  march  to  triumph,  and  possess 
A  land  united  to  the  farthest  rim. 
Through  sorrow  purified. 


THE   STROKE    OF   JUSTICE. 

The  hour  was  come,  the  Nation's  crucial  hour; 
A  crisis  of  the  world,  a  turn  of  time ; 
The  ages'  hope  and  dream. 
And  one  undaunted  soul,  sinewed  with  power. 
Freedom's  anointed,  rose  to  height  sublime, 
Imperial  and  supreme  ; 


And,  lifting  high  o'er  groaning  multitude 

His  sovereign   sceptre,  smote   with   such   a 

stroke 

The  chains  of  centuries, 

90 


THE   STROKE   OF  JUSTICE.  91 

That  earth  was  shaken  to  its  farthest  rood ; 
That  millioned  manacles  asunder  broke, 
And  myriad  properties 


Became,  in  one  immortal  moment, — men  ; 
Free  with  the  free  in  all  the  rounded  earth ; 
Redeemed  by  martyr  blood; 
To  stand  with  faces  to  the  light  again. 

Attaining,  through  their  resurrection  birth, 
To  human  brotherhood. 


VICTORY. 


93 


4 


DAWN  AND  HOPE. 

Hail   Dawn !   whose  purpled  raiment  sweeps 
before, 
Round  radiant  feet,  the  chariot  of  Light, 
Forerunner  of  the  Day  ! 
Dawn !  whose  most  mystical  and  quickening 
lore 
Starts  Nature's  silenced  voices  of  the  Night 
To  full-tuned  roundelay. 

Hail  Dawn !   whose  form,  with   dewdrops  all 
bestrewn, 
Drives  back  the  dark  before  the  lark's  ad- 
vance ; 
Descends  th'  expectant  hills  ; 
Runs  o'er  the  vales  that  'neath  her   shining 

shoon 

95 


96  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

With   rapture   tremble  till  the  grass-spears 
dance 
Along  the  sparkling  rills. 

Hail  Dawn!   whose   sister,   Hope,  trails  close 
beside 
Across  the  spaces  dim  of  Pain  and  Fear, 
Sweet,  passionate,  and  pale. 
With  eyes  of  purest  light  and  undenied 
On  earth  the  glory  of  her  natal  sphere 
Where  Love  and  Peace  prevail. 

Hail  Dawn  and  Hope !  whose  subtle  presences 
Together  chant  the  march  of  Victory's 
Descendings  from  the  blue ; 
Whose  wildering  workings  of  far  grace  possess 
Heaven's  near  unfoldings  in  earth's  summer 
breeze 
O'er  every  avenue. 


I 


GETTYSBURG. 

Redemption  marched  unknowing 
Where  lay  the  field  of  strife  ; 
But  Heaven  and  Hell's 
Embattling  spells 
Were  lords  of  Fate,  bestrowing 
The  earth  with  dead  for  life. 

Courage  and  Carnage  mated 
To  hue  the  ends  of  time ; 

In  balance  hung 

A  nation  swung, 

While  all  creation  waited 

Round  battle  gore  and  grime. 
7  97 


98  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

They  fought  for  all  the  ages, — 
Blue  saviors  of  the  world  ; 
Made  Stars  and  Stripes 
Right's  archetypes ; 
Took  Duty's  dreams  for  wages, 
And  Freedom's  flag  unfurled. 


THE  LIFTING  SHADOWS. 

The  shadows  slowly  lifted  from  the  sun  ; 
The  benediction  splendors  downward  rolled, 
Fore-flush  of  day  to  be ; 
The  Nation's  Prophet  stood,  his  mission  done, 
Upon  the  covenant  mountains,  aureoled 
With  immortality. 

The  shadows  slowly  lifted,  and  the  Land 
Grew  glad,  e'en  though  the  blood  of  heroes 
veined 
Her  sacramental  face; 
For  Right  at  last  had  risen  to  command, 
And  Justice  had  in  her  Republic  gained 
Her  high  and  holy  place. 

99 


100  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

And  though  th'  unsilenced  drumbeat  filled  the 
air, 
And  armies  marched,  guns  thundered,  earth 
waxed  red, 
And  tears  rolled  up  high  mist 
'Twixt  lurid  Hope  and  Consummation  fair, — 
Yet  he  who  heard  the  upper  battle-tread 
And  saw  wings  white  and  whist 


Blow  out  the  nether  squadrons,  unbeheld 
But  dire  and  darkled,  back,  abysmward, 
Wild  wind  to  wildered  flame, 
Wot  mystically  where  black  ruin  swelled. 
Engulfing  floods,  on  earth  uncalendared 
But  in  the  heavens  a  fame, — 


THE  LIFTING  SHADOWS.  lOI 

Perceived  a  psychic  lordship  steal  athwart 
Sidereal  wastes  from  Nature's  central  deeps, 
Making  his  soul  its  zone, — 
A  prescience  of  th'  unsighted  heights  apart, 
And  the  unwearying  watch  Love  ever  keeps 
O'er  Right's  unvarying  own. 


THE  GREAT  TRANSLATION 


103 


THE   APOTHEOSIS. 

To  one  superior  peak,  before  untrod, 

Alone  he    clomb,   the   summons   heard   by 
naught 
Save  his  interior  soul ; 
The  Nebo  of  his  life,  the  mount  of  God 
All  luminous ;  and  marvelling  he  caught 
Swift  vision  of  the  goal 

Of  his  unwavering  faith,  the  Promised  Land 
Toward  which  his  feet  had  led  his  People  on 
O'er  wastes  of  blood  and  fire  ; 

And  gazing  saw  the  breadths  of  grace  expand 
Apocalyptic  in  the  halcyon  dawn 

Of  centuried  desire. 

105 


Io6  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

He  saw  across  the  passing  hurricane 
His  Country's  armies  march  to  victory  ; 
And,  lifted  to  the  light, 
The  Stars  and  Stripes  in  glory  wave  again, 
Invincible,  the  standard  of  the  free, 
The  sacred  sign  of  right. 


He  saw  the  battle-clouds  disperse  for  aye  ; 
The  camp-fires  of  the  Nation  smouldering ; 
A  million  veterans  tread 
The  smiling  paths  along  the  homeward  way; 
Expectant  gates  of  welcome  open  swing, 
And  feasts  of  gladness  spread. 


THE  APOTHEOSIS.  lO/ 

The  vision  widened,  and  the  distant  view 
Grew  clearer  till  the  fugitive  forecast 
Of  far  horizons  shone ; 
And  earth  became  a  thronged  avenue 
With  multitudes  processional  that  passed 
Before  his  prophet  throne. 


He  saw  the  golden  South  refashioned  rise, 
Transcending  all  her  dreams  imperial, 
To  greatening  power  and  fame  ; 
A  deeper  azure  in  her  bending  skies, 

Increasing  wealth  of  nature  quickening  all 
Her  strong  and  beauteous  frame. 


I08  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

He  saw  the  argent  North  anew  inspired, 
Beneath  her  holy  chrism,  to  truer  love 
For  her  rich  heritage, — 
The  revenue  of  sacrifice  acquired 

In  service,  which,  from  hallowed  founts  above. 
Shall  flow  through  every  age. 


He  saw  the  wounds  of  war  in  Union  healed  ; 
No  North,  no  South ;  from  sea  to  mountain 
tip 
One  land,  one  flag  for  aye  ; 
And  kindred  blood,  mixed  on  the  battle-field, 
Cementing,  in  perpetual  fellowship, 
The  Nation's  Blue  and  Gray. 


THE  APOTHEOSIS.  IO9 

He  saw  the  marble  columns  gainst  the  sky  ; 
The  flowered  garlands  o'er  the  palls  of  green  ; 
The  gathered  worshippers 
Conning  the  story  that  't  is  sweet  to  die 
For  Country,  and  to  win  the  prize  serene 
A  grateful  world  confers. 


The  splendor  spread  to  its  meridian  prime, 
And    earth    lay   fruited    'neath    the    noon's 
caress ; 
He  saw  from  zone  to  zone 
The  feet  of  Love  upon  the  crests  of  Time, 
The  hand  of  Peace  dispensing  blessedness 
From  Freedom's  central  throne. 


no  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

He  saw  the  upward  march  of  centuries  ; 
He  heard  the  gloried  sweeps  of  gratitude 
Above  the  glad  earth  rise, 
Antiphonal  with  strains  of  heavenly  bliss, 
The  diapasons  of  beatitude, 
Hymnings  of  Paradise. 


Listening,  he  heard  the  sweet  adagios 
Of  quiring  angels,  and  the  morning  song 
Of  the  redeemed  and  free  ; — 
And  was  not,  for  God  took  him  ;  and  he  rose, 
Caught  to  the  bosom  of  that  martyr  throng 
Who  died  for  Liberty. 


THE  VOICE  OF  MARTYRDOM. 

In  the  great  world  there  are  no  accidents ; 
Enthroned  above  the  ages'  ebb  and  flow, 
Unseen,  misunderstood, 
God  rules,  who  in  all  seasons  and  events, 
Through  fiery  evil  and  o'erwhelming  woe, 
Forever  works  the  good. 


And  God  hath  wrought  the  good ;  forevermore 
The  million-mouthed  cries  of  martyrdom 
Are  one  immortal  voice 
That  sounds  triumphant  o'er  the  mighty  roar 
Of  instant  days  and  centuries  to  come, 
And  bids  the  world  rejoice; — 


III 


112  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

Rejoice  that  Freedom's  gifts  the  earth  adorn, 
And  every  path  is  open  thoroughfare 
Won  on  the  fields  of  strife ; 
That   man   may   mount   to   highways   of    the 
morn, 
With  Faith  the  light,  and  Hope  the  fragrant 
air, 
And  Charity  the  Hfe. 


THE  NATION'S  WOE. 


*T  IS  proverbed  that  the  individual  soul 
Gets  finest  furtherance  through  furnace  fire, 

And  Godlike  grows  ere  it  foreshows  God's  goal; 
Likewise  a  nation,  ere  it  can  acquire 


The  leadership  of  nations,  speed  God's  part 

In  high  achieving,  ends  of  grace  forestall, 

Must  wildered  reason  yoke  with  broken  heart. 

Feeling  for  God  and  finding  Him  its  all. 
8  113 


114  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

The  Nation's  sorrow  !     Thou  wert  sent  to  bless; 

Thine  was  predestined  holy  motherhood ; 
Of  thee  has  come  th'  immortal  tenderness 

That  beats  unceasing  in  a  people's  blood. 


For  when  one  name  beloved  of  all  strong  names 
Our  Country  honors  is   out-breathed   there 
springs 

A  mystic  feeling,  pure  as  altar  flames, 
Remembrance  of  vicarious  sufferings  ; 


Heart  softens  unto  heart ;  an  occult  tie 

Binds  soul  to  soul ;  a  prescient  atmosphere, 

More  gentle  than  the  dawn,  falls  sacredly 
Of  light  unseen,  of  music  none  may  hear. 


THE  nation's  woe.  II5 

And  one  vast  holy  pride  leaps  from  the  dust, 
Grasps  Stars  and  Stripes  and  leads  the  on- 
ward way 
Of  God's  anointed  Nation,  through  whose  trust 
Comes  to  its  noon  redemption's  whitening 
day. 


i 


THE  PLEDGE  OF  HISTORY. 


117 


'i 


COLUMBIA,  GREAT  MOTHER. 

Columbia,  great  Mother  ;  through  all  lands 
The  memory  of  her  stoned  prowess  runs 

And  glorified  expands. 

Columbia  enfreedomed  ;  thus  she  stands, 
Behind  the  bulwark  of  her  noble  sons, 

Robed  in  her  starry  bands. 

Behold  her  risen  from  embattled  plains, 
More  beautiful  by  all  her  holy  scars 

And  sacred  martial  stains  ! 

What  grace  and  wisdom  her  proud  form  attains ! 

With  sheathed   sword   beneath  her  Stripes 

and  Stars 

How  tranquilly  she  reigns  ! 

119 


I20  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

Her  realm  is  of  all  realms  the  goodliest, 
The  fairest  of  the  new  Hesperides  ; 

A  zone  of  fulness  blest 

With  golden  fruits  unfound  in  ancient  quest, 
And  gladdening  wine  all  sweet  unto  the  lees ; 

The  free  and  welcoming  West. 


She  knows  the  bitter  of  Oppression's  gall ; 

She  knows  the  taste  of  Freedom's  nectared 
cheer ; 
And  when  the  sorrowing  call. 
E'en  though  it  be  beyond  her  ocean  wall, 

Remembering  her  past,  shall  she  not  hear 
And  Liberty  forestall? 


THE   PLEDGE  OF  HISTORY.  121 

For  high  and  holy  ends  God  made  her  strong, 
And  set  her  on  the  sacred  heights  of  trust, 

The  constant  foe  of  wrong. 

Her  forces  unto  Righteousness  belong, 
That  prostrate  forms  may  rise  from  out  the 
dust. 

And  sighing  change  to  song. 


Never  shall  she  forget,  as  years  speed  on, 
That  unto  God  her  virgin  troth  was  given  ; 

That  'neath  His  benison 

The  mighty  triumphs  of  her  past  were  won  ; 
And  so  for  her  the  stars  shall  strive  from 
Heaven, 

If  righteous  deeds  be  done. 


122  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN.  ' 

i 

Columbia  enthroned  ;  through  all  time 

Swift  answering  to  Freedom  ;  they  who  rose, 

For  sake  of  her  sublime, 

Are  pledge  that  ever,  as  the  race  shall  climb 
Yet   higher,  she  shall  point   to  paths  that 
close 

Upon  the  ages*  prime. 


I 


OUR  SOLDIERS. 

O   Soldiers,  who  stood  for  the  Flag  of  our 
Nation  ! 
Columbia's  children  can  never  forget, 
How  you,  through  the  grace  of  your  sacred 
oblation, 
Her  honor  and  glory  invincible  set. 

Behold  the  proud  Banner  of  Liberty  streaming ! 

The  Flag  of  our  Union,  the  Red,  White  and 

Blue  ! 

Its  Stripes   all  undimmed  and  its  Stars  ever 

beaming. 

Baptized  in  the  blood  of  the  brave  and  the 

true. 

123 


124  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

You  marched  and  were  weary,  you  fought  and 
were  wounded, 

You  fell  in  the  battle,  you  sank  in  the  storm ; 
But  out  of  your  sacrifice  Heaven  has  rounded 

The  hope  of  the  ages  to  beauteous  form. 

Across  the  scarred  fields  of  your  struggles  im- 
mortal, 
In  reverent  reviewing  the  hosts  of  the  free 
Shall  trace  the  red  paths  which  you  trod  to 
Fame's  portal, 
And  sacredly  pledge,  through  the  years  that 
will  be, 

To  follow  unswerving  your  feet  of  devotion, 
Inspired  by  your  holy  and  generous  deeds ; 


I 


OUR  SOLDIERS.  125 

And,  filled  with  a  pure  and  a  patriot  emotion, 
Be  true  in  their  Country's  imperative  needs. 

Upon  the  firm  granite  the  marvellous  story 
Of  valor,  with  chisel  of  love,  is  engraved  ; 

The  ages  shall  read,  and  exalt  to  new  glory 
The   crimson-stained    banner  you   gallantly 
saved. 

Around  the  green  mounds  where  your  forms 
lie  a-sleeping, 
The  People  shall  gather  again  and  again  ; 
And,  blessing  your  memories,  place  in   your 
keeping 
The  palms  of  thanksgiving,  the  laurels  of 
pain. 


126  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

All  quickened  by  Duty's  ensanguined  libation, 
A  Nation's  new  flower  has  bloomed  from  the 
clay ; 
The  sweet  asphodel  of  a  fresh  consecration, 
Sprung  out  of  the  graves  of  the  Blue  and  the 
Gray. 

Pass  on,  O  our  Soldiers,  to  heavenly  capture ! 

We  follow  swift  after  beneath  your  renown ; 
Pass  on  to  the  bivouac  of  rest  and  of  rapture ! 

Behind  you  our  freedom,  before  you  your 
crown. 


THE  LATER  WARRIORS. 

Republic,  saved  by  blood  ! 

Inviolate  vows,  sworn  on  thy  hallowed  altars. 
Are  borne  from  mouth  to  mouth ; 
From  good  to  greater  good 

Right's  triumph  forward  strides,  and  never 
falters, 
Through  welded  North  and  South. 

Th'  unsilenced  martyrs  speak  ; 

Increasing  spreads  the  Truth's  commanding 
valiance ; 
While  he  who  lists  above 
Hears,  peak  in  fugue  to  peak. 

Heaven's  sacred  chimes  o'er  earth's  unceas- 
ing salliance 

Of  heroes,  lords  of  Love, — 

127 


128  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

The  Love  that  hath  large  eyes, 

Beholding  the  oncoming  generations 
And  Nature's  greatening  frame 
Through  all  democracies ; 

Senses  that  feel  the  past's  renunciations 
And  God's  high  will  like  flame. 


The  lords  of  Love  and  Faith, 

Who  hold  God's  torches  'gainst  the  dark, 
forspending 
As  spent  historic  hosts, — 
These  are  the  strong,  as  saith 

Hierarchic    tongue,   the    Nation's   bulwarks 
bending 
Back  Evil's  thrusts  and  boasts. 


THE   LATER  WARRIORS.  1 29 

From  age  to  age  they  come, — 

The  later  warriors,  with  set  plowshares  beaten 
From  ancient  swords,  and  turn 
God's  furrows, — without  drum 

Or  bugle,  but  with  holy  visions  heaten, 
That  quicken  while  they  burn. 


From  every  clime  they  march  ; 
And  they  who  wait  shall  have  the  great  be- 
holding 
Of  wonder  yet  unseen, — 
Love's  nation-builded  arch 

Of  freedom  risen  o'er  seas  and  manifolding 
On  every  power's  demesne. 


130  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

The  sceptre  shall  not  fall 

Which  freemen  placed  in  Right's  unflinching 
fingers  ; 
The  crown  shall  not  grow  dim 
Within  her  judgment  hall. 

Her  throne  shall  stand  secure  while  memory 
lingers 

And  chants  Faith's  battle-hymn  : — 


*'  O  Lord  of  all  the  earth ! 

We  follow  where  Thou  leadest,  stoutly  fight- 
ing 
Thy  battles  which  are  ours. 
Thou  gavest  Freedom  birth ; 

We  are  her  sons,  the  wrong  devoutly  right- 
ing 
And  slaying  Evil's  powers. 


THE  LATER  WARRIORS.  13I 

"  Thy  cause,  O  God  !  shall  win ; 

There  cannot    fail   Thy    promise,    our    en- 
deavor, 
Set  with  Thy  sovran  seal. 
Keep  us  the  foes  of  sin ; 

Make  duty  clear,  assurance  strong,  and  ever 
Give  us  faith's  martyr  zeal. 


''  So  may  Thy  kingdom  be. 

Enlightening  the  nations  with  Thy  glory, 
Consuming  with  Thy  grace. 
We  hail  man's  destiny, 

Wrought  on  earth's  battle-fields  in  crimsoned 
story, 
Which  all  the  heavens  embrace.** 


THE  LAND  OF  PROMISE. 


133 


THE   LAND   OF   PROMISE. 


The  mists  on  the  mountain  peaks 
Melt  fleet  in  the  glad  new  morn  ; 
The  hope  of  the  world  is  born  ; 

The  Sphinx  of  the  ages  speaks. 


The  wrinkled  forehead  of  Time 

Responds  to  his  laughing  soul ; 

The  runner  has  reached  the  goal ; 

And  all  things  fall  into  rhyme. 

135 


136  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

The  winds  are  poets,  and  sing 
September  back  into  June  ; 
The  radiant  asters  swoon, 

All  purpling  toward  the  Spring. 


The  bitter  is  changed  to  sweet ; 

The  bruises  of  battle  heal ; 

And  Peace  stands  again  at  the  wheel, 
And  turns  it  with  glowing  feet. 


O  God-given  Occident! 

O  Land  of  Promise  !  whose  sphere 
Is  Nature*s  enlarged  career 

And  Spirit's  divine  ascent ; 


THE   LAND   OF  PROMISE.  1^7 


Reserved  for  the  fulness  of  days 
Through  haze  of  the  desert  past; 
A  Canaan  revealed  at  last 

Of  fruited  and  flowered  ways. 


From  sea  to  the  granite  hills, 
From  crests  of  snow  to  the  sea, 
Rush,  flashing  with  energy, 

Innumerous  crystal  rills. 


The  mountains  impatient  stand 
For  mystic  call  of  desire ; 
The  vales  inviting  conspire 

For  magic  touch  of  command ; 


138  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

Expectant  of  labor's  keys, 

Strong-wrought  at  the  forge  of  hope, 
Their  subterrene  doors  to  ope, 

Disclosing  earth's  treasuries, — 


Great  inner  chambers  of  gold, 
And  vaults  of  potential  heat. 
Primeval  power's  retreat. 

The  store  of  the  ages  old  ; 


The  store  of  the  ages  new. 

And  force  for  the  higher  trend, 
Where  Nature  and  Spirit  blend 

In  rise  toward  the  blazoned  blue. 


THE   LAND   OF  PROMISE.  1 39 

Behold  th*  enriching  dower 

Since  Freedom  and  Toil  were  wed  ! 

Brawn's  harvests  that  turn  to  bread ; 
Mind's  visions  that  change  to  power ; 


Far  belts  of  perspective  steel ; 

Processions  of  strenuous  steam  ; 

The  passing  thrones  of  a  dream 
God  gives  to  His  commonweal ; 


Sky-piercing  of  art  from  the  dust, 
Sprung  whither  the  high  winds  sing ; 
The  Occident's  sheltering 

Of  manhood's  commutual  trust ; 


I40  ABRAHAM   LINCOLN. 

Wide-open  portals  to  thought ; 

Unhindered  highways  to  prayer  ; 

And  spirit  the  regnant  heir 
Of  guerdons  the  flesh  has  wrought. 


Fair  Land  from  sea  unto  sea, 

Redeemed  from  its  centuried  stain  ; 
Made  new  through  heroic  pain  ; 

Awaiting  the  great  To-be. 


Fulfilment  of  Liberty's  dream 
And  Love's  acceptable  year ; 
The  will  of  the  Lord  made  clear  ; 

The  voice  of  the  People  supreme. 


THE    LAND   OF  PROMISE.  I4I 

All  barriers  broken  down  ; 

The  eagles  of  faith  a-wing ; 

Democracy  for  king, 
With  justice  its  sacred  crown. 


God's  kingdom  in  miniature  ; 

The  governance  of  the  good ; 

The  glory  of  brotherhood  ; 
The  rights  of  man  to  endure. 


The  home  of  the  world's  oppressed  ; 

The  answer  of  Trust  to  Care  ; 

The  welcome  of  Hope  to  Despair; 
The  earth's  great  hearthstone  of  rest. 


142  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

One  Union  never  to  fall ; 

One  Freedom  never  to  cease ; 

One  ineffaceable  Peace ; 
One  Flag  afloat  over  all. 


.    X 


-  ••»  .      --t*; 


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